Barretts try cheers in north Meath today

Many Meath sports enthusiasts were no doubt watching the Rugby World Cup final this afternoon as New Zealand got the beter of Australia by 34-17 with a man with Meath connections Beauden Barrett (pictured) going over for the final try of the tournament in the 79th minute.

Beauden’s father and mother — Kevin and Robyn - moved to Ballinacree in Autumn 1999 where they were managing a dairy farm and Kevin was playing with the Buccaneers in Athlone.

As a child, Beuaden Barrett — along with his brothers Kane and Scott — played Gaelic football with St Brigid’s GAA club (Ballinacree) and also at St Fiach’s National School in north Meath.

The Barrett children went to school in St Fiach’s National School and played Gaelic football there and with the St Brigid’s club.

Beauden Barrett won his first cap for the All Blacks when he came off the bench to score nine points as New Zealand hammered Ireland 60-0 in 2012.

In a poll by the New Zealand Herald earlier this summer, Barrett was the preferred public choice at out-half for the Kiwis at this year’s World Cup.

New Zealand made sporting history in today's final at Twickenham as they became the first team to be crowned Rugby World Cup winners for a second successive time.

There was probably a bit of extra interest in the game around north Meath.